Kirkland, Washington French Flea Market...

When I told my hubs that there was going to be a French Flea Market in Kirkland on the Saturday after the fourth of July, it didn't take any arm twisting to convince him we should go.

Kirkland is one of the loveliest places to visit.

It's a quaint town right on the shores of Lake Washington, northeast of Seattle.

Besides, it's where we both went to college, started dating and got engaged.

So, of course, it's special to us.

We went up on the fourth and enjoyed watching fireworks from the balcony of our hotel room.

Friday, we enjoyed time by the lake, did a little looking at some of our favorite shopping places,

then enjoyed a wonderful dinner out together.

Saturday, the flea market started at 10 a.m.

There were already anxious shoppers waiting when I arrived a few minutes before ten.

(The hubs is not the flea market type, so he enjoyed some time at the University of Washington bookstore, leaving me to happily shop to my heart's content.)

To be honest, I was expecting there would be more things from France there,

but it was more decor items of the French Shabby Chic style.

Isn't this tiny Adirondack chair adorable?

The prices were pretty reasonable, in my opinion.

That turquoise stool tempted me, but I really have no place for it.

Isn't this CREATE banner beautiful?

It would be great for the right style of craft room.

I loved how the frame on this piece of vintage music was decorated!

A less "fancy" version of a CREATE banner.

A few beach themed items were in this space.

This little desk was given a sweet makeover.

I really liked the old cabinet that this fabric garland was draped on.

Here's Melaine's space from the blog My Sweet Savannah.

I've followed her blog since I first started blogging,

and also follow her on Instagram, so it was fun to meet her in person.

Her merchandise was wonderful and she makes it herself!

In another space I saw this dish display, on the ground leaning on the cabinet.

I've long admired these wall mounted dish display racks 

and have many photos of them pinned on Pinterest.

But this one was pretty large and pretty heavy so I passed it up.

 I just don't have the wall space for it.

It was a really great price, though!

I liked these painted chairs.

 Here's some more chairs. 

These are a bit more "French" in style.

There were some spaces that had more rustic farmhouse style goods,

which I find myself drawn to more than something too frilly or fussy in appearance.

I really liked this painted table at the Poppyseed's space.

But the big temptation of the day for me was this wheeled French market basket.

Wouldn't it look great tucked in the corner of a room and filled with dried hydrangeas

or fragrant greens at Christmas time...

can you imagine?

Oh, I would have loved to bring it home with me...

but it was out of my budget.

So, here's what I did buy.

Oh, not the cubby, not the table, it's one wee little thing in one of the cubby holes.

Can you guess which one?

Another little vintage alarm clock to add to my collection!

 I mostly enjoyed looking and taking photos,

and bought just one wee little item to remind me of a very fun day.

still following, 

              

She labors for others...

Quote by St. John Chrysostom.

Photo edited with a simple overlay of Kim Klassen's Sybil texture at 30% opacity.

still following,

Elizabeth

Savoring my moments...

There's a vast difference between wolfing down your food and savoring each delicious bite.

This writing down my gratitude,

counting my blessings,

giving thanks,

it's like savoring life.

I'm not just consuming my days,

I'm savoring my moments.

And in the writing them down,

reading over them again,

typing them here,

I'm remembering the sweet taste of each one.

And, I'm thanking the One who gave me this life to live for His glory all over again.

***********

In 2012 I followed the prompts in Ann Voskamp's Joy Dare in counting my thanks.

In 2013 I'm going back to the way I did it in the beginning,

just noticing and recording the many extraordinary blessings in my ordinary life.

And so I continue to count my thanks

piling up gratitude day by day

in my little black journal.

(and capturing some of them via my camera or iPhone)

#3506-#3531

7-1-13-

-running in spite of the heat

-getting my housework done in spite of the heat

-coconut chicken for dinner at our oldest daughter's house...YUMMM!

-laying down beside youngest granddaughter until she fell asleep

7-2-13-

-a really good devotional time today

-a happy meeting with a happy conclusion

-a fun afternoon watching the grandkids enjoy swimming in their new pool

7-3-13

-making jam with oldest granddaughter

-going to a fun pre-fourth of July party

7-4-13-

-a safe drive to the Kirkland/Bellevue area for a fun holiday getaway

-lunch and devotions by the lake

-a relaxing evening

-watching the fireworks from our hotel room balcony

7-5-13-

-getting to have our weekly "Friday Date Day" at our favorite place

-running next to the lake

-a great dinner together at Maggiano's...so good!

7-6-13-

-a great night's sleep-feeling rested and refreshed

-me having fun at the Kirkland French Flea Market 

while my hubs has fun at the University of Washington bookstore

-eating our Teriyaki Madness lunch by the lake 

(to me, the teriyaki standard by which all others should be judged)

-a cloudless day-seeing the Olympic mountains in the distance

-a safe drive home

-our home - sleeping in our own bed

7-7-13-

-wonderful worship to our wonderful, most worthy God

-a Sunday afternoon nap

-going shopping for a dress with youngest daughter

-going to see Despicable Me 2 with our whole family

gratefully yours,

     

Psalm 23:2-3

The Hubs and I head home tomorrow after a little getaway to one of our favorite places.

I've been enjoying having my devotions outside by Lake Washington the past two days.

Something about sitting near the water, whether it be the sea, a lake or a river 

while reading God's Word and journaling is so soothing and restorative.

Whenever I feel stuck or dry in my devotional life a simple change in location often does the trick.

Spending time with God while enjoying His creation is one of my favorite things to do.

still following,

                                                                         

                                                                    

Happy Independence Day!

I'm sitting here in our hotel room waiting until it gets dark enough for the fireworks in the park to begin.

The hubs and I will be able to see them from the little balcony of our room.

Tomorrow we will be spending our Friday date day on the shores of Lake Washington.

I'm hoping we can take a run lakeside.

I need it!

I ate too much good food at a fun third of July get together last night at a friend's house.

We had a delicious dinner of grill burgers and hotdogs, 

along with all sorts of delicious side dishes and desserts brought by all the guests.

Then, they gave us our own personal fireworks show!

It was a lot of fun.

 Saturday I'm going to the French Flea Market in Kirkland!

Saturday afternoon we will head back home.

I hope to share photos of the flea market with you next week.

I'm  hoping your holiday weekend is happy, blessed and safe!

still following,

Time for some Peach Desserts! Peach Crisp Ice Cream and Peach Clafouti

Every year at our church's annual picnic we have a homemade ice cream contest.

Entries are judged on taste, texture and originality.

After the judges sample the ice cream and pick a winner, then everyone gets to eat some.

This year I made Peach Crisp Ice Cream.

This cutie pie young mama won first place with her peanut butter cup ice cream.

(I didn't even get to taste the winning entry because I was so busy serving up my ice cream!)

I don't have any styled food photos, so pardon this half eaten container of my ice cream photo.

It's peach season, so I thought you might want to try my Peach Crisp Ice Cream recipe.

I thought it was pretty delicious.

First I made some fruit crisp topping-

Cut 1/2 cup cold butter into 3/4 cups brown sugar, 1 cups oats, 3/4 cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder.  Spread crumb mixture into a greased 9x13 baking dish and smash down with spatula.

Bake it at 375 til golden brown.

Cool completely.

Then, I made a simple, no cook vanilla ice cream.

Mix together until sugar is dissolved:

1 quart half and half

1 pint whipping cream

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 tablespoon good vanilla 

dash of salt

Freeze in ice cream maker according to your appliance's instructions.

When at "soft serve" stage add 2 cups diced peaches, (fresh or canned that have been drained),

and crisp topping that has been crumbled.

After this step I put the ice cream in plastic storage containers 

and put in the deep freeze overnight until firmly frozen.

Another of my favorite desserts, (though we actually eat it for breakfast too), is a clafouti.

It's delicious made with peaches.

This is a "lighter" version of Julia Child's clafouti recipe.

1 1/4 cups 2% canned milk

1/3 cup sugar

3 eggs

1 Tablespoon vanilla

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup flour

           2 cups diced peaches,

 (fresh or canned and drained)

1/4 cup sugar

powdered sugar

In a blender blend the milk, sugar, eggs, vanilla, salt and flour. Pour a 1/4 inch layer of the batter in a buttered 7 or 8 cup lightly buttered fireproof baking dish. Place in the oven until a film of batter sets in the pan. Remove from the heat and spread the peaches over the batter. Sprinkle on the 1/4 cup of sugar. Pour on the rest of the batter. Bake at 350 degrees for about for about 45 minutes to an hour. The clafouti is done when puffed and brown and and a knife plunged in the center comes out clean. Sprinkle with powdered sugar, serve warm.

Yummmm!  

Don't you just love fresh peach season?

I hope you'll give these recipes a try!

(And in case you want a couple more peach dessert options,

 here's my husband's grandma's Peach Cobbler recipe 

and 

how about some Peach Hand Pies?)

still following,