SUMMER ADVENTURES AWAIT

Good Morning Kindred Spirits......

Allow me to wish each of you a very Happy and Safe
July 4th...stay cool and celebrate the USA!

 

For the first time, in the history of Estelle's,
I will be taking off the remaining months of Summer
to recharge my batteries of creativity and enjoy
time with my family........

I want to take this time to restore my heart and soul....
I want to think of decorating ideas for the fall...
I want to think of menus for November and Thanksgiving....
I want to decide what Christmas theme I want to use for December.....

Please enjoy the remaining months of Summer
and come back to visit me beginning in September...
we will share home décor, delicious recipes and talk about
books, and movies.....
it's going to be fun on a bun! 
Y'all take good care!

OPALHOUSE SUMMER DECOR AND EASY SUMMER FOOD FARE

"Of this be sure, you do not FIND this HAPPY LIFE,
you MAKE IT!"~Thomas Monson

I have been part of a love affair...yes, I certainly have......
with Target's OPALHOUSE home goods line!
This set of melamine plates was my very first purchase

from Opalhouse when it first appeared in stores.

I purchased this gorgeous canvas print last year
for the upstairs Jack and Jill bathroom....
I just love the vibrant colors in this boho chic line!

Now, here are a few new additions I purchased recently....
this beautiful bath towel...so thick and luxurious!

And, this vibrant, delicious smelling candle...
this just speaks SUMMER to me.....
the scent is just over the moon good......

I'm bringing this to the beach with us.....

Lastly, this beautiful Pink Capiz Plug- In Wallflower

to go with this SEASIDE COCONUT WARMING OIL!

It's fun to create a certain seasonal vibe throughout the house!

I would love to know what your recent home purchases have been!

SUMMER FOOD FARE

Blueberry Biscuits...marvelous with morning coffee

Nothing better than a homemade Taco Salad

Drizzle with a touch of French Dressing

Martha Stewart has a new line of appetizers out and I picked these up
for a small cocktail party......

They were actually pretty good..light and fresh tasting...
Yes, I would purchase this again!

Don't forget the deviled eggs.....
they always are a perfect side when serving BBQ 
or grilled burgers!

Green Chili Chicken Spaghetti

This is a delicious recipe using HEB Green Chili Stew Mix

Here is the recipe if you can get your hands on the Stew Mix

Now, how about a sweet ending.....

German Chocolate Cake

Topped with Creamy Vanilla Frosting and colorful Sprinkles!

A look back at a wonderful Father's Day 2021

 

HOW ABOUT A FEW MOOD BOOSTERS!

 

Hello Loves....how are things going at your house today?
I find most our days are just ordinary, non-eventful days....
perhaps that is something to be thankful for....right?

The month of June has been interesting weather wise...
lots of rainy days in May through the first week in June,
then we just jumped feet first in those hot 90 plus degree days......

But, it sure is lovely to enjoy sitting poolside and
listening to the sounds of nature....

Our Texas Vitex tree is absolutely stunning right now.....

I was so thankful this tree made it through that awful freeze we
experienced last January

What I'm Reading

There are two interior décor books that I love and look at repeatedly. 

This is one of them. (The other is An Affair with a House by Bunny Williams.).

 Bee Cottage is charming, warm and inviting. 

The garden and pool are to die for and more formal than the cottage interior. 

The rooms have been decorated in a relatable way. You believe that you, too, 

could achieve the look without an oversized pocketbook. 

Some of the tips are genius (e.g., painting built-in hallway drawers to look like furniture,

 using grid of art work to simulate a window). 
Frances Schultz exhibits a joie de vivre and 

doesn't take herself or decorating too seriously!

FOOD FARE

Mini breakfast waffles with fresh strawberries

Ms. Bobbie's Chocolate Muffins

Strawberry Dumplings

The delicious things you can create
with a tube of Crescent Rolls.....

I believe any summer fruit would be divine is this recipe....

Loaded Beef Enchiladas

Let's talk candles....
I love supporting small family owned businesses
and I found THIS company on Etsy
which specialize in soy crafted dough bowl candles....
not only are their candles top notch,
but they are made right here in our great state of TEXAS!

RedBarnCandlesCo

Red Barn Candle Company
Dallas, TX

And, I just had to share this new Sunflower canvas....
I've had my eye on this for awhile and during the
Memorial Day weekend it went on sale for 20% off plus
free shipping.....I think it's stunning addition to our kitchen!

So that's about it for news from Estelle's!
Hope y'all have a great week and make
some great memories!

MOTHER'S VINEGAR PIE

 I can remember my Mother asking me if I had ever tasted a

Vinegar Pie? She said it was just delicious!!!

I had in fact, not ever had Vinegar Pie before and actually

couldn't wrap my mind around what that would taste like?

So, while going through some of her recipes the other day,

I came across her Vinegar Pie, and decided it was time

to give it a whirl......

I can understand why this was such a popular dessert in the
days of the depression and when Grandmother was preparing
dinner for her family....the ingredients are few, and simple.....
and it turned out to be just like Mother described...DELICIOUS!

I would described the taste as very similar to a Chess Pie,
which I have made quite often!

It was interesting to note, that while researching various recipes
for Vinegar Pie, the ingredients varied....
some used brown sugar, rather than white sugar, 
the butter and number of eggs varied.....
so below is Mother's recipe...which is the one I will always use.

Vinegar Pie
6 T. butter, melted and cooled
4 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cups sugar (white)
1/2 t. salt
2  T. apple cider vinegar
1 t. vanilla

Nutmeg

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Beat eggs with sugar. Add melted butter.
Then add salt, vinegar and vanilla....blend together.
Pour mixture into unbaked pie shell, sprinkle with nutmeg and
bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Let cool before slicing..
And there you have it.....VINEGAR PIE...
It is delightful!!!!

Y'all have a great weekend!

SUMMER VACATION PREP UNDERWAY

 The beach is calling.......

The "anticipation"

 of our family beach trips may be THE most

fun part of the entire experience.....

I pretty much have lists in my mind of what
to bring since we have loved this vacation for so many years.
We reserved our beach rental house a year ago, so the planning
has been over a year in the making....

It's funny how little things become traditions.
I texted this to all the children when shopping last week....
they know the drill....and it makes us all SO happy!

I plan menus in order to bring only the best....of the best!

Our current favorite salad dressing

Love this BBQ sauce

Yes Ma'am....BBQ HAM SANDWICHES will be on the lunch menu.....

A light summer dessert will be on the menu also.....

This smells divine....I love scrubs for pedicures
and keeping feet in tip top sandal weather shape

Maxi dresses have been selected....

And.....our days have been spent trimming and power washing...
getting the outdoors summer ready!

I can't believe we are already in mid-June....
I so hope you are enjoying your summer days
and are finding happiness in ordinary things....