FEBRUARY VIOLETS ARE A PROMISE OF SPRING!

About this time every year I bring

 up all my violet china pieces
because it's time

 to think about lovely violets!

I have a February birthday so
I have always loved violets.

I remember as a teenager,
  going out on a cold day in 
Virginia and seeing violets
blooming under the leaves.  I had
a flower bed around an old
tree stump.  My family never spent
much money on plants or seeds for
flowers but rather we dug things
up that we found in the woods.

If you love to decorate for different
seasons you know that putting things
away can be quite a job too so I am glad
 that the New Year and Valentine
 decorations are all packed away.

CHOCOLATE PIE MAKES US HAPPY!

Sometimes chocolate is 
what makes
us happy!

I have shared this pie before here
because I make it every once
and a while.  It is a bit of a
knock off to the old Bishops
Cafeteria Chocolate Pie.
We are suddenly getting
some snow today so it is a nice 
day for life in the kitchen.

Here is what you will
 need to make this pie.
A store bought or easily made
graham cracker crust.

 To make your own I take 9 rectangle
 pieces - which is one pkg of
cinnamon graham crackers and
smash them into crumbs.  I heat
1/2 stick of butter and mix all 
together and mash into the
bottom of a buttered large pie plate.
Bake at 375 degrees for 5-8 minutes 
till it starts to turn brown!  Cool

I put the rush on cooling mine today by
putting it out in the cold garage while
I prepared the filling!

For the pie filling:  You will need 
1 quart good quality vanilla 
ice cream, 2 small pkg of jello
 instant pudding,   2 square of 
unsweetened chocolate and 
1 1/2 cups of heavy whipping
 cream.  I put the ice cream in
 my mixing bowl and let it melt. 
 Then beat the ice cream and heavy
whipping cream and add the pudding
mixes.  Then I melt the chocolate and
add it mixing well.  Pour into the
cooled pie shell and refrigerate.

For a nice decorated edging around
the pie I beat together 1 cup of heavy
whipping cream and 1/4 cup of
confectioners sugar.  You can spoon
this into a pastry bag and decorate
with the tube of your choice on the tip!

Enjoy and stay warm!

MY NEW LOOK

A few people have commented

to me about my new hairdo.

On my Bernideen's Tea Time,  Cottage
 and Garden Facebook page I let

everyone know my situation.

So,  I will do that here too.

I figured I can't hide the facts

anymore so I am letting you know

I am now the owner of a wig.

Since last summer I lost most of

my hair (alopecia areatea).  In the

whole scheme of life - this is but a

small thing to endure, especially

 when one sees what others go through. 

 I mean that with all my heart.

I am blessed beyond measure and

very thankful to the Lord for all

my many blessings.

Bernideen - at almost 70.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY WEEK

For the past couple of weeks I

have enjoyed making Valentines

at my kitchen table.  It has been

very cold so I brought crafting

supplies upstairs and now I am

glad to get it all removed.

This is the large medallion I made

for my downstairs tea room.  I

had fun making some Valentines

for friends.

I have had the Dee Foust "Love" 

banner for years so I have enjoyed it on

the mantle:

I hope you have a lovely

Valentines Day Week!