Flowers for my Friends, Lots to share & a Yummy Recipe!

Oh my, has it really been nearly two weeks since I made a real post - time flies!

Don't you just love the happy faces and colors of pansies?

Last week was particularly busy for me.  I headed over to our old home to dig up plants for our new place.  Spent most of Tuesday there.  I dug up perennials and some rhubarb and brought my arbor as well, then spent Wednesday planting most of it around here.  I actually had fun working in the 'old' yard...sitting by the pond watching the frogs...and reflecting on the beauty of the Lord, and the work I put into 20 years at that home/yard.  It made me a little sad at times, but I am so happy that our son and daughter-in-law, Drew & Maria, get to enjoy it, and I can go back to visit whenever my heart desires.  I hope to make our home and yard here a show place as well...but it's going to take time.

Mr. Whimzie and I spent every night last week working to transform our garden shed into a new chicken coop for our sweet chickies.  We got the big chicken yard all framed up and fencing attached. I cut out a window and chicken door as well.  They are growing so fast and I would really love to get them moved out to the coop by the end of this week.  I take them outside to the chicken run that I made every nice day that I can.

See how much my second batch of chicks has grown!

Friday I spent most of the morning baking and decorating a large sheet cake for a church celebration.  I was in such a hurry to get it delivered Friday afternoon, that I plum forgot to take pictures!  I planned to post lots of pictures today, but I never snapped any the entire weekend...and there was so much to share!

Our boys and their lovely wives came for the weekend.  We set out early Saturday morning to scour a massive street sale in Auburn, NY.  Lake Avenue was holding their annual street-wide sale, with over a mile worth of sales on both sides of this lovely divided avenue, dotted with beautiful homes and gardens.  We trekked up and down the street, delighting in the hunt and enjoying our time together.  We all found some treasures, and came home famished.  After lunch, the girls and I made potato salad and starting some chicken marinating for our dinner on Sunday.  We played a rousing and unconventional game of croquet, as Drew set up a very strange course for us to follow.  We had a cookout for dinner and everyone was fairly tired at the end of the day.  

A couple little crocks I got at the sales on Saturday.

Sunday morning after church the girls and I were in the kitchen again, making rhubarb and apple pies, along with deviled eggs.  I had invited my parents down for the day to celebrate my Dad's 78th birthday and an early Mother's Day.  Of course, Nephew Jake came along too.  It was a sunny, albeit a little cool afternoon, and we spent a lot of time visiting out on the stone patio, soaking up the warmth of the sun.  Dinner was delicious! 

 We have a custom here in central New York each Spring, Summer and Fall....you can smell the wonderful aroma of what is known as Firehouse Chicken...or Cornell BBQ chicken...it is not a red bbq sauce.   Fire stations and local groups wanting to raise money, and homes all around, marinate their chicken in this wonderful sauce, then slow cook it on the grill, basting many, many times to extract all the flavor from the chicken.  Not many Saturdays go by when you can't find a chicken bbq in the local small towns....and people rolling down their car windows as they drive by just to smell the chicken cookin'!  Now, of course, I can't just let you all sit there drooling just thinking about this chicken, so I'll share the recipe right now!

Cornell BBQ Sauce for Chicken

1 c vinegar

1/2 c canola oil

2 T salt

1 1/2 t poultry seasoning

1/2 t ground pepper

1 egg yolk or 1 whole egg

Blend well and pour over one chicken, cut up into pieces...or whatever chicken pieces you wish.  Marinate at least 4 hours, but overnight is better.  Grill over low, slow heat, basting often with leftover marinade, for 1 1/2 hrs or until chicken is completely cooked.  You will be rewarded with a moist and flavorful chicken....yummmm.

I'll close today's post with a few other pictures...sorry I didn't get more of this weekend's fun.  Have a lovely week ahead!

My small arbor in place on the patio

Got my Uncle Sam out and starting doing a little more patriotic decorating....

...including a new display in my door box - hoping to make a small Uncle Sam to tuck inside this week.

To all those who joined the Bug Swap - don't forget that your packages are due for mailing next week!

Rejoice in your day!