Mobile Flower Show, Aaron Friedman Doll Houses

Before we head to the Mobile Flower Show and chat with the Trail Maids, you might want to take a peek at their website. Click Here 

Thursday, March 22, 2007
Off to the Flower Show, one of my reasons for coming.  I wasn’t disappointed.  Beautiful examples of what one can do with fountains, urns, plants, etc. in the garden. There were also displays of blooms, dining rooms and courtyards.  I was impressed, but would have liked to see more.  Outside the main pavilion were booths selling plants, as well as anything else you could possibly want for your garden.  I certainly couldn’t buy plants to carry around in a hot car, nor could I fit in those huge pots or garden benches.  I don’t care for knick-knacks, so I bought food, of course; chardonnay-lime-cilantro seasoning to make a dip, white tea-key lime-raspberry preserves and white tea-pomegranate-orange preserves for my Snooty Pantry.  I’d like to fit in time to prepare an afternoon tea, but might have to show off my “gourmet finds” after I get back from Utah.
 
Some of the Maids made an appearance at the show, so I got to take some good photos of their beautiful dresses.

 
The afternoon was free, so I went to the Mobile Museum.  Interesting display of exhibits and artifacts depicting Mobile history.  A traveling exhibit about slavery had fascinating handcrafted idols, door locks, spears, doors, etc., as well as some excellent examples of batik.  The main part of the exhibit was about slavery which made me cry, so I left.  Downstairs I found a hall of cases full of silver everything – tea service, cups, urns, teaspoons, serving pieces, trophies – you name it.  Even a little engraved silver souvenir menu.  It was written in French, and I haven’t the slightest idea what was served.
 
Then a wonderful surprise – an entire room of totally furnished dollhouses, all completed by one man and his wife.  They were even wired with electric lights.  The wife must have spent hours needle pointing the rugs and making curtains from lace, ruffles, eyelet lace, baby rickrack, etc.  She was very clever.  The houses were perfect – the best part of the museum. His son has since made a vlog tour Click Here which is much better than looking at my photos. There are also vlogs where Aaron talks about the ones he built for his granddaughters. Part 1,  Part 2,  Part 3,  Part 4

 
We had rubbery barbecued beef brisket and scalloped potatoes from a box for dinner.  The green beans were edible and I had some chopped tomatoes and raw carrots from the salad fixings. I don’t like iceberg lettuce or rather, at times it doesn't like me.
 
The speaker for the evening session was a comedian, so I went back to my room to pack.  I don’t like corny.

To be continued. . . . .

Our wonderful country is full of these hidden gems just waiting to be discovered. I hope that those of you who have Facebook will share the info about these houses so others can appreciate them.

I ran across a couple of recipes I made in the past and thought were keepers, but didn't add to my computer. 

The Cauliflower salad is best eaten right away or the next day. Doesn't keep well. The Cherry Pie salad is more of a dessert. It was pink the first time I made it, but now sort of orchid; maybe the result of the ban on red food coloring.

CAULIFLOWER SALAD

1 small head of cauliflower, chopped

6 or 7 green onions, sliced

12-oz pkg of bacon, cooked and crumbled

8-oz pkg Cheddar cheese, shredded

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 Tbs vinegar

1/3 cup milk

 

In a large mixing bowl, combine cauliflower, onions, and bacon.

 

Gently stir in cheese.

 

Mix vinegar and milk and combine with mayonnaise. Pour over.

 

Cover and chill.

CHERRY PIE SALAD

1 21-oz can cherry pie filling

1 8-oz can crushed pineapple, drained

1 14-oz can sweetened condensed milk

1-1/3 cups flaked coconut

1 cup finely chopped nuts

Half of an 8-oz Cool Whip

 

Mix all but the Cool Whip; then fold it in gently.

 

Chill before serving.

I also made some No Bake Cookies, of which I've seen versions in almost every fund raiser cookbook.

NO BAKE COOKIES

1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups quick-cooking oats, uncooked (not instant)
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
 
Line cookie sheets with wax paper. 
In a large mixing bowl, stir together the peanut butter, powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla with a wooden spoon.
 
Stir in oats and chocolate chips.
 
Drop by kitchen teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper.
 
Refrigerate to set, then store in tins with waxed paper separating each layer.
 
Makes a lot – at least 48.

My decluttering is not going well. I took some things to the thrift store, but ended up buying a great new tape dispenser (really heavy) for 90 cents. You can order one through Walmart for $9.86.

I couldn't resist these sweet glasses which match my blue permanent dishes. I bought six for 90 cents each - senior day, 10% discount.

Kudos if you've come this far. I know this was a very long post, but I just kept finding things to share.

BE SURE TO USE SUNSCREEN

EAT A HEALTHFUL DIET INCLUDING LEAFY GREENS

STAY HYDRATED

LOTS OF GOOD RED FOODS RIGHT NOW: APPLES, STRAWBERRIES, WATERMELON, TOMATOES - EAT UP

HARTER HOUSE HAS GREAT FLAVORED ICE TEAS: PEACH OR RASPBERRY. THE BRAND IS TURKEY HILL

THANK YOU FOR SHARING MY LIFE