Charleston Completed! A Week in Review

After arriving early Thursday morning to finish the last few details and take professional photos, we looked back ahead and felt a sense of accomplishment and success. The house is cozy, stylish and colorful. I think I could live there and be quite happy.

Reloading the car with the excess to return home turned out to be quite a challenge!

Good and faithful BES van ready to load...

The problem..,this is what has to go in in addition to 3 passengers!

...another view

Linda pondering.,,she decided to turn the project over to Sneelock. Good thinking.

So, he's a miracle worker in all ways!

Here is a sample of the finished rooms. Let's just call it a week in review, no words. Just photos. Hope you enjoy the overall...I'm really happy with the final result, and happy to be headed home tomorrow.

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All approved....just sayin'

Father's Day Cheesecake for Two!

After a busy day with Church responsiblities, my darling husband and I sat down to a private dinner for two as we like to call it! I miss the large family dinners we sometimes have with extended family far away, but for tonight, it was a quiet dinner with just us.

Fred's Sundays are filled from 9:00a.m. till about 5:00 or 6:00p.m. and tonight it was later than usual. I love that this service is so much a part of his life and that he is a good man with integrity and a love for The Lord. He is honest in his relationships and a man to be admired for all that he does for his family and friends. He is the supreme example to me of selflessness. I want to be more like him. All who know him love and admire his work ethic and supportive nature to my venture in Black-eyed Susan. I love this man.

Meanwhile, I tried a new recipe of flank steak with a molasses and cracked pepper glaze. It was pretty good...except for the heat over the grill in 95 degree Philadelphia heat. Baby red potatoes and roasted fresh corn completed our easy meal.

This favorite dessert topped the evening! It is one that my darling mother made for us for the last 50 years, and happens to by my father's personal favorite dessert. Look how cute it is for two! It is a frozen cheesecake (not for those faint of heart when using raw eggs!). YUM! It's fast and easy...a bit fattening to be sure.

3 eggs, separated

1 cup sugar

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1 brick cream cheese

graham cracker crumbs

Separate the eggs. Cream the sugar, salt and cream cheese together till fluffy. Add the vanilla. Beat the egg yolks in, one at a time until well beaten. In separate bowls, whip the egg whites until stiff (not too stiff, but will hold a peak). Whip the whipping cream. Fold in alternately the egg whites and whipping cream, being gentle so as to incorporate the air,but be thourough.

I like to use a double recipe for a normal spring form pan, but a single recipe fits nicely in this cute small, deep one. Line the bottom of the pan with graham cracker crumbs, then fill the pan with the mixture. Top with additional graham cracker crumbs and freeze. Make the night before serving. Enjoy!

It's a family favorite! My mother would be proud.

Thanks To My Father...

On the eve of Father's Day, I feel a debt of gratitude to my own father for the drive to work hard that I learned from him. I'm thankful that I enjoy working. I enjoy so much the creative work that I do, and am thankful daily that I am physically able to do the things that I am required and push myself to do. I believe that I inherited my love of work from my darling father, who at the age of 90 still mows his own lawn, prunes and gardens, shovels his own double drive and many times the neighbors, vacuums the house, harvests from his garden, and has a Face Book account!

This is one of my favorite photos of him taken in 1942. He is at his desk in a small apartment in Boston, Ma., where he attended MIT. That was several years before I was born. This handsome man worked his way through college entirely on his own. Born into a large family and being the last of 7, his parents died when he was a young boy. Raised by his brothers and sisters, he milked cows to earn his way through school. He was a successful student and graduated with honors, overcoming a lot of obstacles with drive and perseverance.

As a child, I never recall seeing my father sit in front of the TV. He worked all day at his office, or on the road traveling, came home and worked again, either repairing, building, or serving as a church officer. He was talented with his hands and a fine musician! And, like my own darling husband, he's a pretty good Sneelock!

My love of all things creative was instilled by him. My love of productivity was learned from him. My drive to push a little harder has certainly been passed down from him. If I can learn to give of myself, arise early and work through the day (and into the night), give selflessly of my time and talents, and be as tender as he is, I will have taken the best from his example.

I love you, Daddy. Happy Father's Day 2010.

Sentimental Susan

Just one year ago, my sweetest Fred (Sneelock), and my son Ryan , disassembled my prized work table from my design studio. It was a very emotional night for me. If you'd like to review my post of that night, click here.

Those same feelings came flooding back to me last week when I saw my new design studio poised with the 12' long, 50" wide table standing in the center of the room. The tears came back as I recalled the gift of love as demonstrated by Fred and Ryan last March 22. I feel loved and cherished by these men in my life, and I know that I am a lucky woman.

Here's to a few more years with my loved table in my new design studio. There are hours of work to do to get the rest of it set up, but I feel like the anchor of my work space has come home. Thanks, Sneelock.

I'll let you know in a few years when I'm ready to retire how my design table fares. As of right now, both Ryan and Sneelock claim it's coming out in pieces for the last time. *sigh* For now, I'll use it with joy.