A very Different 4th. of July 2020

Hello sweet friends !

I just received roses from the flower shop so I created a 4th. of July tablescape for the two of us. 

My husband will accompany me celebrating America's birthday.

Although this pandemic it's still far from going away, I am glad we're open and the USA is too. I heard the economy is coming back and that makes me happy for America.

Have a wonderful, happy and safe 4th of July weekend.

Wishing all of you a very blessed time. Always praying my Rosaries for the sick and for the well being of the world.

I thought I'll really celebrate with Alejandro the 4th. of July at our antique French marble table.

The blue leather chairs are English and they were my daughter Alexandra's from her single apartment and she didn't take them to Madrid when she got married .

Some home made cheese scones to have with the onion soup.

Some wine to celebrate America and the world.

This small water pitcher with blue is a very old from after WWI.

I decided to use blue and white Woodland-Wedgewood dishes for a special patriotic dinner.

Thank you dear friends for your kind comments, you always make my day !

Thanking the lovely hostesses for their parties.

HAPPY 4TH. OF JULY 2020

LOVE,
FABBY

I will party here:

Grace at Home
www.impartinggrace.com

"Anything Goes" Pink Saturday
http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com

Saturday Sparks Link Party
http://piecedpastimes.blogspot.com

Love Your Creativity Link Party
www.lifeandlinda.com

Inspire Me Monday
www.create-with-joy.com

Busy Monday
www.apinchofjoy.com

You're the - Garden Feature Week
www.eclecticredbarn.com

Little Cottage Link Party
www.lovemylittlecottage.com

All About Home
www.commonground-do.com

TUESDAYS AT OUR HOME
http://mariaelenasdecor.blogspot.com

Inspire Me Tuesday
http://astrollthrulife.net

Oh My Heartsy Girl Wonderful Wednesday
www.ohmyheartsygirl.com

Grace at Home
www.impartinggrace.com

Share Your Style
www.frenchethereal.net 

Anticipating Summer with a Strawberry Shortcake "cheater" Charlotte

Hello sweet friends !

It's been a while since I last posted, as I've been kind of busy with mother and all the household chores.

I hope all of you and your families are keeping safe, happy and healthy.

My daughter Alexandra, Sergio and her little daughters are coming for lunch a couple of days a week too, from just across the street. 

They are the ones that live in Madrid, but since the COVID-19 quarantine started they have stayed in our town Cuenca-Ecuador, as they were visiting the family since last February.

I baked this gorgeous "Charlotte 'Cheater' cake."  They call it 'cheater' because of the 'Nordic Ware' pan that comes perfectly shaped to make a 'fabulous looking Charlotte Cake,' with hardly any effort, lol...

Never the less, it is delicious !

With that said.

Anticipating a happy looking Summer table for our tea time afternoon with daughter Alexandra, Sergio and her two little girls.

I used for the cake these cute and very Summery lemon plates.

'The "Cheater" Charlotte Cake' came out so pretty and delish !

I explained at the beginning of this post that the 'cheater' part comes because it's made on a 'Nordic Ware' pan that has the shape of a perfect Charlotte cake, without the effort that almost needs a professional, lol..

Ain't it peity ?!

Recipe here:  https://entertainingwithbeth.com/strawberry-shortcake-cheater-charlotte-recipe/

Nordic Ware Charlotte pan.

Thank you so much dear friends for your kind comments, you always make my day !

Thanking the lovely hostesses for their parties.

LOVE,
FABBY

I will party here:

Make it Pretty Monday
www.thededicatedhouse.com
Inspire Me Tuesday
http://astrollthrulife.net

TUESDAYS AT OUR HOME
http://mariaelenasdecor.blogspot.com

Keep in Touch
www.letsaddsprinkles.com

Tuesdays with a Twist Blog Hop
www.godsgrowinggarden.com

All About Home
www.commonground-do.com

Vintage Charm Party
www.ourhopefullhome.com

Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop
www.ohmyheartsygirl.com

Creative Muster Party
www.flusterbuster.com

Beautifully Made Linki Party
www.acrosstheblv.com

Waste Not Wednesday
www.fairiesandfauna.com

Party in Your PJ's
http://theapplestreetcottage.blogspot.com

Grace at Home
www.impartinggrace.com

Share Your Style
www.frenchethereal.net

Tablescape Thursday
http://betweennapsontheporch.net

Thinking Out Loud Thursday
http://pennyspassion.blogspot.com

"Anything Goes" Pink Saturday
http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com

Saturday Sparks Blog Party
http://piecedpastimes.blogspot.com

Snickerdoodle Create Bake Make
www.acrosstheblvd.com

Happiness is Homemade
www.eclecticredbarn.com

Love Your Creativity Blog Party
www.lifeandlinda.com

Springy Luncheon Table - 'Wishful Thinking'

Hello sweet friends !

Hope you are all well and safe.

I pray for wellness and healthiness to you my bloggy friends all my friends and family, plus everyone and every country in the world affected by this deadly 'Coronavirus'... and when each country finally opens up. I also pray its citizens follow instructions well to keep safe on the NEW NORMAL whatever that might be !

I don't know how things would be for us 'senior citizens 65 and over.' I would imagine we'd have to take more 'severe precautions' to go out, once the countries are open.

"Don't get me wrong my friends, I feel very blessed to be alive and well in the company of the most wonderful person in the world, my hubby of 45 years. Inside our comfortable home, with all the food we need and doing my chores and cooking and baking. I thank God everyday !" 

As you know, Mr. and Mrs. Living are still in quarantine, until next notice; but in the meantime I took my 'Bird plates' out and decided to make a table spread that would remind me of the park and the gorgeous river banks by my home, where there are so many trees and beautiful little birds chirping away with happiness, after a rainy morning.

I guess I could go out and take a walk, but hubby doesn't want us to take any chances. So he might be right, therefore, I just watch from our windows around our 14th floor penthouse, which has a lovely view of the river running thru, smelling the delicious scent of the very tall eucalyptus trees, specially after it rains. 

The 'Andean mountains' view is wonderfully serene too and the city avenue with no people, or traffic after the 2pm curfew we have here.

It did make me smile with happiness creating this tablescape and hoping some day, not to far away we can host a 'Luncheon' for the family... that's my 'wishful thinking' for today.

Keep safe, healthy and happy.

I placed as centerpiece my favorite tureen with a cute bird on the lid. Flowerless, as I didn't go out shopping myself. 

The tureen was made back at Alejandro's Ceramic. Co., Monte Turi.

The dinner plate under the bird salad plate is one that I thought would go perfect with the top plate and it's a "Home Gallery" brand, complete dinnerware for eight. 
I bought two sets of this pretty china so very many years ago, when I didn't own many chinas to entertain, therefore, I have sixteen place settings complete with serving pieces and two teasets.

"Home Gallery" teacup and saucer here.

Here the place setting is with that darling teacup with a blue birdie daughter Alexandra gifted me two of them, several years ago.

They are from "Gracie Co."  Maybe someday I will order six more to match the cute bird plates.

The stemware is 'Venetian-Crystal'

Thank you so much for your kind comments dear friends, you make my day !

Thanking the lovely hostesses for their great parties.

LOVE,
FABBY

I will join:

Love Your Creativity Link Party
www.lifeandlinda.com

Make it Pretty Monday
www.thededicatedhouse.com

TUESDAYS AT OUR HOME
http://mariaelenasdecor.blogspot.com

All About Home
www.commonground-do.com

Inspire Me Tuesday
http://astrollthrulife.net

Busy Monday
www.apinchofjoy.com

You're the Star
www.eclecticredbarn.com

Tuesdays with a Twist Blog Hop
www.godsgrowinggarden.com

Lou Lou Girls Fabulous Party
www.loulougirls.com

Celebrate Your Story
www.zucchinisiaters.com

Tuesday Turn About Link Party
www.blueskyathome.com

Keep in Touch
www.letsaddsprinkles.com

Oh My Heartsy Girl Wonderful Wednesday
www.ohmyheartsygirl.com

Creative Muster Party
www.flusterbuster.com

Vintage Charm
www.ourhopefulhome.com

Grace at Home
www.impartinggrace.com

Share Your Style
www.frenchethereal.com

Tablescape Thursday
http://betweennapsontheporch.net

"Anything Goes" Pink Saturday
http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com

Blessings this Good Friday and Happy Easter Sunday

Hello sweet friends !

Since in shut down mode, I've bake bread and cakes sometimes. Soon cookies to send it to my grandgirl Maxima from Spain who is now living here in Cuenca-Ecuador and across the street from us.

I just baked an 'Orange Cake' for my mom to make her happy, hubby and me.

I think sweet stuff like bake goodies make us smile, especially if we are actually doing it. I so enjoy baking much more then cooking.

Wishing you all a quiet and blessed Good Friday.

Happy Easter Sunday. 

Blessings to you all and keep safe.

                   May the Blessings
                        Of the Lord
                      Shine upon You
                    On this Holy Day
                         & May He always
                      Keep in His Loving care.

Delicious "Rosa's Orange Cake" I baked for mother.

Another set of six quilted placemats and a round center mat.

We love this Orange Cake recipe as it's from a girl that used to work for us around 35 years ago and my little girls used to like love it.

" Rosa's Orange Bundt Cake "
2 Tablespoons of cornstarch
2 1/2 orange zest
3/4 cup fresh orange juice
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 cup sugar
3 egg whites beaten until stiff peaks form
3 egg yolks
1/2 cup oil
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon Rum
1 tablespoon baking-powder
Pinch of salt

In a stand mixer bowl, mix all the dry ingredients.
Then while beating, add each wet ingredient. (Except the egg whites.)
Beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form and fold into batter.
Pre-heat oven to 350F. and bake for 40 minutes.

When you take it out of the pan, pinch it all over with a toothpick, so you can drizzle the following:

1 1/4 cups of powder sugar
2-3 tablespoons of fresh Orange juice
1/2 teaspoon of vanilla
Mix it well and glaze the cake all over it.



Thank you dear friends for your kind comments, you always make my day !

Thanking all the lovely hostesses for their great parties.

LOVE,
FABBY

I will party here:

"Anything Goes" Pink Saturday
http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com

Friday Favorites
http://pennyspassion.blogspot.com

Flaunt it Friday
www.chiconashoestring.com

Funtastic Friday
http://buildingourhive.blogspot.com

Farmhouse Friday
www.thepaintedhinge.com

Saturday Sparks
http://piecedpastimes.blogspot.com

TUESDAYS AT OUR HOME
http://mariaelenasdecor.blogspot.com

Love Your Creativity Link Party
www.lifeandlinda.com

Inspire Me Tuesday
http://astrollthrulife.net

Tuesday with a Twist
www.godgrowinggarden.com

Vintage Charm Party
www.ourhopefulhome.com

Keep in Touch
www.letsaddsprinkles.com

Creative Muster Party
www.flusterbuster.com

Party in Your PJ's
http://theapplestreetcottage.blogspot.com

Waste Not Wednesday
www.faeriesandfauna.com

Charming Homes and Gardens
www.doubblinganddecorating.com

Grace at Home
www.impartinggrace.com

Charming Home and Garden Wednesday
www.doubblinganddecoratingblog.com

Tablescape Thursday
http://betweennapsontheporch.net

Saturday Sparks Link Party
http://piecedpastimes.blogspot.com

Easter Wishes and a Cheerful Spring Table

Hello sweet friends !

As most of you are keeping inside your lovely homes and safety nests  during this 'Coronavirus' scary situation. I for one have been creating a happy, colorful and cheery Easter table to enjoy and to smile while I waltz throughout my home all day... either cleaning, or cooking, or looking out my window and enjoying the beautiful river and forest scenery from all around our penthouse apartment windows.

I hope one day soon we can all get together with our loved ones and friends and 'celebrate' life again. I am looking forward to such a day, although, at present we are living, very uncertain times ! 

Just the same, 'hoping it will end soon, while praying to our dear Lord and being positive, having lovely thoughts do make me smile. 

 Besides creating this table setting with my very 'cheery tablecloth' for Spring, which I picked up last year at the home store, and using one of my very fav happy dinnerware, we own for more then 30 years, perhaps maybe 35 years and it's, 'Tognana, made in Italy.'

Wishing you all a very safe and happy Easter week.

God bless each one of you.

My happy and cheery 'Easter' table setting for 2020.

I thought I display my lovely 'Italian Tognana' dinnerware, as it's in pink, yellow and a tiny blue floral pattern and I paired it with pink chargers.

I placed my "recycled napkins" as they are in pink floral and that are part of a pretty tablecloth as well. (Not this one) 

I said recycled because they came from my two daughters old bedrooms curtains, so I made a lovely tablecloth from the those draperies and the 12 napkins, 8 displayed here.

I love the gold flatware as it picks up the gold-yellow around the table topper.

The dinnerware has such a pretty floral pattern.
 Dinner plate.

Soup plate, or bowl

Salad plate and the egg cups I found at 'Zara Home Madrid' two years ago.

The cute bunnies are 'Terracota planters' and I found them at my neighborhood's flower shop for $2,50 each... yep !

I totally love them !

The candy bowl with the girls, now holding fruit is a 'Meissen,' one of my fav pieces from around the house.

Two of the teacups from the china set for 'Nine'. Yeah, the owner of the store gifted us the place set from the window display, as we had bought the 'two only boxes' left of four place settings. 

We were so lucky !

One of the 'Tognana' teacups with a bird's nest.

I totally love the 'bunny planters.'

When this is over I'll head to the 'Plant Nursery' and buy some flower plants to grow on them.

Thank you dear friends for your kind comments, you always make my day !

Thanking each lovely hostesses for their wonderful parties.

LOVE,
FABBY

I will party here:

Love Your Creativity Link Party
www.lifeandlinda.com

Inspire Me Monday
www.create-with-joy.com

Make it Pretty Monday
www.thededicatedhouse.com

Busy Monday
www.apinchofjoy.com

You're the Star
www.eclecticredbarn.com

Inspire Me Tuesday
http://astrollthrulife.com

TUESDAYS AT OUR HOME
http://mariaelenasdecor.blogspot.com

Little Cottage Link Party
www.lovemycottage.com

All About Home
www.commonground-do.com

Tuesdays with a Twist Blog Hop
www.godsgrowinggarden.com

Farm Fresh Tuesday
www.theselfsufficienthomeacre.com

Celebrate Your Story
www.zucchinisisters.com

Oh My Heartsy Girls Wonderful Wednesday
www.ohmyheartsygirl.com

Happiness is Homemade
www.ducksnarow.com

Tablescape Thursdays
http://betweennapsontheportch.net

Share Your Style
www.frenchethereal.net

Classical Homemaking Party
www.classicalhomemaking.com

Grace at Home
www.impartinggrace.com

"Anything Goes" Pink Saturday
http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com

Friday Favorites
http://pennyspassion.blogspot.com

Flaunt it Friday
http://chiconashoestringdecoratingblog.com

Funtastic Friday
http://buildingourhive.blogspot.com

Farmhouse Friday
www.thepaintedhinge.com

Saturday Sparks
http://piecedpastimes.blogspot.com